TIMELINE: Vizconde Massacre

Di pa  ma-ka-formulate ng opinyon tungkol sa acquittal na nangyari sa Vizconde case.  Eto ang timeline galing sa Philippine Daily Inquirer.  Ano ang opinyon nyo?

TIMELINE: Vizconde Massacre


Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 03:15:00 12/15/2010

MANILA, Philippines—Below are some of the highlights of a murder case that has gripped the nation for nearly two decades:

June 30, 1991. A mother and her two daughters are found dead in their own home. Estrellita Vizconde, 47, had 13 stab wounds; 18-year-old Carmela had 17 wounds and was raped before she was killed; 7-year-old Jennifer had 19 wounds.

June 1995. Jessica Alfaro, a confessed drug addict, who claims to have witnessed the massacre, testifies in court.

August 1995. Based on Alfaro’s account, the justice department finds probable cause and files rape and murder charges against Hubert Webb, Antonio “Tony Boy” Lejano, Michael Gatchalian, Miguel Rodriguez, Peter Estrada, and Pyke Fernandez in the Parañaque Regional Trial Court.

Two other suspects, Joey Filart and Dong Ventura, remain at large to this day.

1997. Parañaque RTC Judge Amelita Tolentino turns down Webb’s request for DNA testing to see if the DNA in the recovered semen samples from Carmela would match his.

Jan. 6, 2000. Judge Tolentino finds Webb and the other accused guilty. The accused are sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to pay Lauro Vizconde, father of Carmela and Jennifer, more than P3 million in damages and legal fees.

Police investigator Gerardo Biong, accused of destroying evidence, is convicted as an accessory to the crime. He is sentenced up to 12 years in prison.

The accused are transferred to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

Dec. 16, 2005. The Court of Appeals upholds the guilty verdict.

Jan. 29, 2007. The appellate court denies the reconsideration plea of the accused and upholds their sentence of reclusion perpetua. Biong’s sentence is modified to six-to-12 years’ imprisonment.

April 23, 2010. In a full court decision, the Supreme Court approves Webb’s request for DNA testing.

April 27, 2010. The National Bureau of Investigation says it no longer has the semen specimen/vaginal smear taken from Carmela’s cadaver.

Oct. 19, 2010. The high court reverses its decision granting Webb’s request for DNA testing. It notes the NBI declaration that it can no longer produce the semen samples, and adds: “Consequently, the DNA analysis ordered by this court upon the request of appellant Webb can no longer be done.”

Oct. 28, 2010. Webb asks the high court to acquit him. He says his constitutional right to due process was violated when the state, “through negligence or willful suppression, failed to produce the semen specimen that could have proven [his] innocence.”

Nov. 25, 2010. Lauro Vizconde, in an interview with the Inquirer, says he fears Webb et al. may be acquitted.

Nov. 30, 2010. Biong is released from jail as records from the Bureau of Corrections show he has completed his 12-year jail term.

Dec. 14, 2010. Webb and his coaccused are acquitted by the high court and are ordered released from jail.

Inquirer Research